Everything you need to know ahead of Scotland vs Fiji

Eleven of the Scottish starting XV also featured at Murrayfield in 2022. By contrast there are just three returning players in Fiji’s XV and only another couple on the bench who have any previous experience of playing against the dark blues.

Both sides are looking for a fifth consecutive victory. Scotland have only ever managed a streak like this twice during the last 33 years – in 2011 and 2020.

Head to heads

Scotland vs Fiji backs (Image: Kevin Millar)

Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are reunited as Scotland’s wing twins for the first time since the 2023 RWC.

The Edinburgh pair only started together in three of the dark blues’ last 22 internationals, after combining in ten of the 13 Tests prior to that – which included two matches that van der Merwe was suspended for!

Graham has scored in his last four outings at Murrayfield for Scotland, notching seven tries in the process. He needs to make up for lost time so it would be no surprise if he makes it five in a row.

This will be the 15th outing for the Huwipulotu midfield pairing at Test level. There are a fair number of talented Scottish centres around but no-one who seems capable of breaking up an incredible partnership at this stage.

Forwards

Scotland vs Fiji forwards (Image: Kevin Millar)

Zander Fagerson returns after a rare summer off – Covid year aside, his first since 2016. The four games he missed in the Americas are the longest gap in his international resume since 2018/19.

Wee brother Matt has been just as consistent a presence in recent years, playing in 36 of Scotland’s last 41 Tests.

This will be the 19th time that the Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey triumvirate has started together in the back row but just the second of those occasions that have been at international level.

Replacements

Scotland vs Fiji replacements (Image: Kevin Millar) While the starting lineup is as close to full strength as it can be with no Premiership or Top 14 players available, the bench should fill part of the developmental requirement from these November Tests.

The inexperienced nature of the subs is illustrated by a total cap count of just 55 – which is the lowest tally for any home fixture in the Townsend era.

Rory Sutherland has played in more Test matches (33) than the other seven replacements combined (22).

Fellow prop, D’Arcy Rae, should make his first international appearance 2,094 days after his debut, when he got 12 minutes from the bench against Ireland in the 2019 Six Nations. Scotland have played 63 games since then.

Officials

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)

Assistant Referee 1: Christophe Ridley (England)

Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (France)

TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)

FPRO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

This will be the first-ever encounter with Evans for Scotland. He has been a regular in the URC for several years, though, taking charge of 17 Edinburgh and Glasgow games, so everyone involved with the home side should be more than familiar with the official.

Craig Evans will take charge of Scotland for the first time (Image: SNS) He has dished out at least one card in his last eight club fixtures. There were five sin bins when these sides last clashed at Murrayfield. It seems reasonably likely that someone will spend some time on the naughty chair on Saturday.

World ranking watch

Current world rankings: 7th Scotland (82.82) v 9th Fiji (79.64)

Fiji would leapfrog both Scotland and Italy with a win, while the home side could make a potential gain of 0.38 (win by 15 or less) or 0.57 (win by 16 or more) ranking points with a victory.

Mick Byrne's Fiji side can leapfrog Scotland in the world rankings if they win at Murrayfield (Image: World Rugby via Getty Images)

That won’t be enough to move up any places, although the dark blues would eat into their deficit with Argentina, and could also be right behind England if there is an All Blacks’ win at Twickenham earlier in the afternoon.

Miscellany

• The 15 Glasgow players selected equals the record for a fixture during Gregor Towsend’s time in charge for Scotland (also Samoa during the 2017 Autumn Tests)
• The average age of the Fiji starting lineup is more than two years younger than their selection for the last match between these sides in 2022.
• With 11 of their 39-man touring squad for the Autumn Nations Series not available due this game being outside the international window, the visitors have only picked players who have most recently played for or who have signed for Super Rugby’s Fijian Drua.
• The Scottish starting XV have collectively bagged 113 Test tries. Only once in the Townsend era has a lineup been named with more scores behind them.